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Delta College's inaugural women's soccer team had a magical season

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, November 20, 2011

Last August, Paul Stenglein, a former Delta College soccer player and longtime leader of a perennially strong Frankenmuth girls' varsity soccer program, returned to the site of his collegiate playing days to begin a new era at Delta.

"I enjoyed the challenge of building a new program. It's really fun starting something brand new and watching it evolve, said Stenglein, head coach of Delta's first-ever women's soccer team, which finished 11-3-1.

Delta's 16 players, a tight-knit group that Stenglein sensed early on truly cared about each other, capped a magical season recently by defeating vaunted Schoolcraft CC to win a Region XII championship.

The Pioneers then took a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Wabaunsee (Ill.).

"We were ranked 14th in NJCAA Division I going into the game, and even though we were disappointed to fall one goal shy of going to Florida (for the national tournament), I told the girls that when future teams do make it to the nationals, that they built the foundation. This has been a miracle season."

After a 2-2 start, the Pioneers started clicking, going 9-1-1 the rest of the way. Stenglein, with his background as a goalie, and his daughter and assistant coach, Heather, as a four-year All-State prep player who stills holds many offensive records at Frankenmuth, struck an effective balance in their coaching approach.

"Heather took charge of the attacking and I focused on the defensive side of things," Stenglein said. "It was extra special to coach with her. I've always enjoyed spending time with Heather, and the players would often talk to her about things going on in their lives that they weren't going to share with me."

"I've had the privilege to have my Dad as a coach for four years in high school and grew up with his style of coaching and techniques," said Heather Stenglein. "This enabled us to always be on the same page as far as a game plan and what we wanted to accomplish throughout the season."

Team chemistry fueled Delta's improbable season.

"I honesty never thought at the beginning of the season we would do as well as we did, but it simply came down to how we treated each other," said Heather Stenglein. "I feel our girls meshed so well together and truly became a family and that led to great success."

The Pioneers' successful inaugural season "gives us a lot of credibility" and will help recruiting, Paul Stenglein said.

"We've already had inquiries from players as far away as Detroit and Traverse City," he said.

Five Pioneers earned All-Region honors this past season: goalie Courtney Neiderquill, Megan Sullivan, Emily Kraska, Stephanie LaBelle, and Taylor Schwellenbach. Kraska, Sullivan and Neiderquill were first team NJCAA Region XII selections, while Schwellenbach and LaBelle made second team. Paul Stenglein was named Coach of the Year.

With most of a 2011 squad that featured seven All-Staters on its roster returning, Stenglein has ample reason to believe Delta won't be a one-hit wonder.

"I know that the young ladies are excited about the season we just had, as well as getting our program to grow with the addition of new recruits," he said. "It's been so much fun this year and we really look forward to continuous excitement as we prepare for next year's season."